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updating docs, overview section one
Paul Ivanov -
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@@ -8,7 +8,7 b' Overview'
8 8 ========
9 9
10 10 One of Python's most useful features is its interactive interpreter.
11 This system allows very fast testing of ideas without the overhead of
11 It allows for very fast testing of ideas without the overhead of
12 12 creating test files as is typical in most programming languages.
13 13 However, the interpreter supplied with the standard Python distribution
14 14 is somewhat limited for extended interactive use.
@@ -32,29 +32,28 b" IPython's interactive shell (:command:`ipython`), has the following goals,"
32 32 amongst others:
33 33
34 34 1. Provide an interactive shell superior to Python's default. IPython
35 has many features for object introspection, system shell access,
36 and its own special command system for adding functionality when
37 working interactively. It tries to be a very efficient environment
38 both for Python code development and for exploration of problems
39 using Python objects (in situations like data analysis).
35 has many features for tab-completion, object introspection, system shell
36 access, command history retrieval across sessions, and its own special
37 command system for adding functionality when working interactively. It
38 tries to be a very efficient environment both for Python code development
39 and for exploration of problems using Python objects (in situations like
40 data analysis).
40 41
41 42 2. Serve as an embeddable, ready to use interpreter for your own
42 programs. IPython can be started with a single call from inside
43 another program, providing access to the current namespace. This
44 can be very useful both for debugging purposes and for situations
45 where a blend of batch-processing and interactive exploration are
46 needed. New in the 0.9 version of IPython is a reusable wxPython
47 based IPython widget.
43 programs. An interactive IPython shell can be started with a single call
44 from inside another program, providing access to the current namespace.
45 This can be very useful both for debugging purposes and for situations
46 where a blend of batch-processing and interactive exploration are needed.
48 47
49 48 3. Offer a flexible framework which can be used as the base
50 environment for other systems with Python as the underlying
51 language. Specifically scientific environments like Mathematica,
49 environment for working with other systems, with Python as the underlying
50 bridge language. Specifically scientific environments like Mathematica,
52 51 IDL and Matlab inspired its design, but similar ideas can be
53 52 useful in many fields.
54 53
55 54 4. Allow interactive testing of threaded graphical toolkits. IPython
56 has support for interactive, non-blocking control of GTK, Qt and
57 WX applications via special threading flags. The normal Python
55 has support for interactive, non-blocking control of GTK, Qt, WX, GLUT, and
56 OS X applications via special threading flags. The normal Python
58 57 shell can only do this for Tkinter applications.
59 58
60 59 Main features of the interactive shell
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